Midseason report card: Which new Fall 2012 TV series are making the grade?

Midterm grades

We're reaching the winter break portion of the 2012-13 TV season, with most series headed into reruns until January. Now that the season's new shows have aired enough episodes for us to get a sense of what they're really like, we want to re-assess what we said in our initial reviews. Did "Arrow," "Nashville" and "The New Normal" live up to their initial promise? Did "Guys with Kids" or "The Neighbors" get any better? And did the handful of shows that didn't get picked-up for full seasons, or were flat out cancelled, deserve their fates? Our evaluation of the freshman class of 2012 follows. -- The Zap2it team

We're reaching the winter break portion of the 2012-13 TV season, with most series headed into reruns until January. Now that the season's new shows have aired enough episodes for us to get a sense of what they're really like, we want to re-assess what we said in our initial reviews. Did "Arrow," "Nashville" and "The New Normal" live up to their initial promise? Did "Guys with Kids" or "The Neighbors" get any better? And did the handful of shows that didn't get picked-up for full seasons, or were flat out cancelled, deserve their fates? Our evaluation of the freshman class of 2012 follows. -- The Zap2it team

What we said then: When a pilot is as successful as the first episode of "Arrow" -- which was both critically lauded and a ratings hit -- we sometimes worry that it's peaked too early and that subsequent episodes might not live up to its promise. Luckily, we don't have to be concerned about that with this show. What we say now: Dare we say that "Arrow" is the most successful new drama on the broadcast networks this season? We do dare. Every episode gets better as we grow more invested in Oliver (Stephen Amell) and his various complicated relationships. We're loving the new, interesting ways that the producers are incorporating familiar DC Comics friends and foes, while still keeping the focus on the important people in Oliver's life. Though he's obviously the lead of the show, there's plenty of material for his family, friends, and loves, and we've fallen in love with almost all of them. "Arrow" more than exceeded our expectations for the show -- which were already pretty high. -- Carina Adly MacKenzie, Zap2it

What we said then: When a pilot is as successful as the first episode of "Arrow" -- which was both critically lauded and a ratings hit -- we sometimes worry that it's peaked too early and that subsequent episodes might not live up to its promise. Luckily, we don't have to be concerned about that with this show. What we say now: Dare we say that "Arrow" is the most successful new drama on the broadcast networks this season? We do dare. Every episode gets better as we grow more invested in Oliver (Stephen Amell) and his various complicated relationships. We're loving the new, interesting ways that the producers are incorporating familiar DC Comics friends and foes, while still keeping the focus on the important people in Oliver's life. Though he's obviously the lead of the show, there's plenty of material for his family, friends, and loves, and we've fallen in love with almost all of them. "Arrow" more than exceeded our expectations for the show -- which were already pretty high. -- Carina Adly MacKenzie, Zap2it (The CW)